Drive-chain



N.P. -'LEVALLEY.

DRIVE CHAIN.

Patented Feb. 15,1887.

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I lzventorx N. PETERS. Photo-Lilhognpher, Washinglon. D. 'c.

UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

NELLY P. LEVALLEY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISQONSIN.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,611, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed September 24, 1885. Serial No. 178,065.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NELLY P. LEVALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive Chains, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top view of two links containing my invention, they being shown coupled together. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top view of a single link. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows thepositions occupied by two links when being coupled.

A A represent the side bars of the link, which may be of any shape in cross-section, though I prefer to make them somewhat elliptical or oval in section, the longer diameter being in the plane of the link. The end bar is represented by B b, the part B being of greater diameter than the part b. Preferably the diameter of this latter part, b. is equal or nearly equal to that diameter of the side bars which extends transversely to the plane of the link, as willlbe seen by comparing Figs. 1 and 2. However, so long as the two parts B and b vary in the manner shown, and above described, the size of either of these parts relative to the side bars is immaterial, as the accomplishment of my purpose depends upon the relation of said parts B and b with those at the opposite end of an adjacent link. At the opposite end of the link there is a bar, 0, which connects the side bars. This bar carries the hook D, which is adapted to engage with the opposite end bar of an adjacent link. This hook has a chamber or socket and a throat or passage-way, d, leading to the chamber or socket, said throat or passage-way be ing preferably of uniform width; but the chamber or socket represented by (1 cl is not of uniform diameter throughout,the portion d corresponding to the part B of the end bar and the portion d corresponding to the part b. At the junction of these two parts of the socket there is a shoulder, d, which may be sharp and square, or beveled, or rounded, there being a corresponding shoulder, b, at the junction of the parts B and b.

will be securely locked together.

(Model) When two of the links are to be coupled, they are put into the relative positions shown in Fig. 6, and then the end bar, B b, is moved into the socket d d, the part b entering first and advancing until the stop or shoulder b" strikes stop or shoulder d, and when this occurs the links are prevented from passing each other laterally any farther, and the parts are so related that the two links can be straightened out into the working-plane. When the links are to be uncoupled, the above series of movements and their directions are reversed.

It will be seen that the part 7) extends from the shoulder b entirely out to the side of the bar A, and in this respect the link differs materially from those heretofore known, having the central portion of the end bar reduced in one way or another, but having the two end parts of said bar substantially the same in size. It will be further seen that the side bars are from end to end of the same size, and therefore I avoid the objections incident to those chains in which one of theside bars is notched or reduced in thickness, although I preserve the well-known advantages of those chains in which the coupling is effected by moving the links laterally, in contradistinction to those in which the coupling is attained by an end wise movement of one link relative to the other. Those links which couple laterally are less liable to accidental detachment; but they are weaker, all other things being equal, by reason of thereduced side bar, the side bars being the parts receiving the main portion of the strain when at work, It will be further seen that the'smaller part, b, is comparatively short, and therefore the strain exerted upon the end bar is carried by the thicker and stronger part, B.

Should it be desirable, after two links have been coupled, to so unite them that they cannot be detached or separated, and yet allow them a free articulation relative to each other, I

this may be done by striking that part c of the hook which overlaps the reduced portion 1) of the end bar several blows with a hammer, which will slightly change the shape of the hook and so reduce the width of the throat d at this point that the side bar, A, cannot pass through it, and thus the two adjacent links It will be understood that after two links have thus been locked together they may be separated,should it be desirable, by forcing open the hook by means of any suitable instrument, or in any suitablemanner. It will also be observed that the links can only be coupled from one side, thus avoiding the accidental reversing and derangement of the links in relation to each other, which is an objectionable feature in some other styles of links, because it changes the pitch-line in relation to the sprocket-wheels upon which the chain may be used.

It is found in the practical operation of chains of this class that while the couplinghooks and end bars rarely break when the chain is new, they wear and cut out quite rapidly on account of the constant friction and movement between these parts when the chain is in operation; but this destructive wearing and consequent weakening of the chain I very largely reduce by making the greater portion of the end bar large and the coupling-hook of a corresponding shape, thus increasing the wearing-surfaces or area of contact between the articulating parts, which tends to lessen the rapidity of wear and increases the durability of the chain.

I am aware that the end bars of drivechain links have been notched at one end, and the hooks of such links have been contracted at one end to a size less than the diameter of the side bars by means of lugs, the chambers within the hooks being of uniform diameter throughout. I am also aware that it is old to form drive-chain links with tapering end bars and with coupling-hooks chambered to fit the end bars, the throats to the hooks being of a width sufficient to allow the passage of one of the side bars through it; but my link differs from such earlier constructions in having a stop or abutment projecting from. the inner face or chamber of the hook, with which the end bar comes in contact when it has entered the proper distance within the hook; and, further, in having the chamber within the hook formed of two parts having different diameters, these two parts being separated by the shoulder (i with which the shoulder I) upon the end bar engages. This permits the links to be coupled rapidly, a single sidewise of such stop projecting from the inner face of 5 the hook it will still operate to prevent the link moving too far and the side bar, A, entering the throat of the hook, even after the end bar and hook have become considerably worn.

The advantages incident to the novel features of my chain may be summed up as follows: First, by reason of the enlarged end bar the wear of the articulating parts is reduced; secondly, I overcome one of the disadvantageous effects of such wear-namely, the permitting of the end bar to slide, when the links are being coupled, so far sidewise that the side bar enters the throat of the hook to such extent that the link cannot be turned down into working position without first backing the side out of the throat, this being accomplished by reason of the shoulders I) (1 within the hook; and, thirdly, I secure this positive stop in links which are coupled to each other by a single sidewise movement without the necessary weakness resulting from reducing or notching some of the bars of the link, as is the case when the throat of the hook is contracted by lugs or projections.

\Vhat I claim is- A detachable drive-chain link adapted to be coupled to another link by a sidewise movement, having two side bars, a coupling-hook at one end formed with the throat d, the chamber formed of two portions, (1 d of different diameters, and the stop or shoulder d within the hook, between the two parts (1 d, and an end bar at the opposite end of the link, having the parts B b of different diameters, and the shoulder 11 at the junction of said parts B b, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELLY I. LEVALLEY.

Witnesses:

J. B. STEMPER, G. \V. LEVALLEY. 

